Climate Action Letter to the Editor

FTFO
Oct 10
2 min read

On Oct 9, 2025, the Nelson Star published a letter from scientist and farmer, Laura Sacks about the imperative to take climate action seriously.

RDCK backing off climate work would be unacceptable By Laura Sacks

Re: RDCK climate work called into question, Sept. 25

I’m responding to your story about the recent (Regional District of Central Kootenay) RDCK board meeting, where they discussed a motion to stop all work on climate change and possibly remove themselves from long-established programs that help fund work in our community.

While their discussion was robust, there was an undertone that many board members see climate action as a burden and are especially cautious because of their perceived lack of public support – especially after the rather aggressive pushback on their mild climate plan a couple years ago.

In my experience, most local people are very concerned about climate change. This is confirmed by surveys by Selkirk Innovates, which found that about 80 per cent of people in the Central Kootenay are worried about climate change and are feeling the impacts. Respondents from our area ranked climate change as the most pressing issue facing our community in the next 15 years, but this trend was completely missed by RDCK’s highly flawed 2023 public consultation process.

The open houses were strongly biased toward a vocal minority who had ideologically driven, anti-government sentiments. Many provided input at multiple open houses, but these were all counted as independent samples. RDCK did not strive to ensure that they heard from the whole community, for example, youth, families with young children, outdoor enthusiasts and newcomers.

The vast majority of residents in our region want improved health, social cohesion, energy independence, clean water and more biodiversity. Climate solutions can easily be designed to provide these benefits and make life better for people in our community.

We need solutions that encourage abundance of imagination, not scarcity of creative thinking.

Acting on climate is our responsibility to our children, not a burden. Paring back climate action during this crucial decade is not acceptable for any level of government.

Laura Sacks

Rural Castlegar